Chesters
Quick info
About Chesters
Chesters is a pub on Chester Rd in Sunderland that pairs a carvery of freshly cooked food with real hand-pulled ales, around four on the bar. The kitchen also serves a hot breakfast and Sunday roasts, and the menu adds sharing plates and desserts for those who want something lighter than a full plate. Screens show football, so a match can go with a pint. Dogs are welcome, which suits anyone walking in with a four-legged companion. The pub recently came under new management.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention private car park fines, real hand pulled ales, carvery and sharing plates.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention private car park fines, real hand pulled ales, carvery and sharing plates.
Customer Review Summary
Real ale draws the most praise, with reviewers describing hand pulled pints kept in tip top condition and four real ales on offer. Close behind is the lovely atmosphere, including an unreal one for the football, with screens in the toilets. A carvery is called freshly cooked, and others enjoyed sharing plates and a yummy dessert. Staff are described as polite and obliging, and one reviewer says the beer is brought to the table. Food draws mixed reactions. One regular calls it hit and miss since the pub changed hands, another found a Friday evening meal ok but nothing to rave about, with plates plonked on the table, and a third called it average at best. The sharpest complaint is the car park. Two reviewers report a parking fine from the private operator, one after a roughly half hour evening drink when the validation kiosk was not clearly explained, the other despite entering details at the machine inside and having an email to confirm it.
Customer Review Summary
Real ale draws the most praise, with reviewers describing hand pulled pints kept in tip top condition and four real ales on offer. Close behind is the lovely atmosphere, including an unreal one for the football, with screens in the toilets. A carvery is called freshly cooked, and others enjoyed sharing plates and a yummy dessert. Staff are described as polite and obliging, and one reviewer says the beer is brought to the table. Food draws mixed reactions. One regular calls it hit and miss since the pub changed hands, another found a Friday evening meal ok but nothing to rave about, with plates plonked on the table, and a third called it average at best. The sharpest complaint is the car park. Two reviewers report a parking fine from the private operator, one after a roughly half hour evening drink when the validation kiosk was not clearly explained, the other despite entering details at the machine inside and having an email to confirm it.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Amazing service and amazing food. I went in the morning and it wasn’t that busy.”
- Google user
“Go quite regular, however as quite newly taken over the foods hit & miss! Still a nice place for a quiet drink & dog friendly.”
- Google user
“Parking trap for customers.Very frustrating experience. We stopped here late in the evening for a quick drink shortly before closing time. It was dark and raining, and like most people we assumed the car park was for pub customers, especially since the signage says restaurant customers receive 3 hours free parking. A few weeks later I received a £100 parking charge from the private parking company operating the car park. Apparently you must go to a kiosk and enter your vehicle registration to validate the parking, but this was not clearly explained and no staff mentioned it at the time. In the dark and bad weather it is very easy to miss these instructions and if you not local. For a short visit of around 30 minutes this kind of penalty feels completely unreasonable. It honestly feels like a trap for visitors. If you plan to visit this pub, be extremely careful with the parking rules or avoid using the car park altogether. Very disappointing expirience”
- Google user
“The apple of my eye, the pinot of my Grigio, the sunder of my land, lily was an excellent server and it was an unreal atmosphere for the football. Even has screens in the bogs !!!”
- Google user
“Great traditional pub an lovely atmosphere great carvery freshly cooked. They had four real ales which was very nice”
Highlights
“Comfortable pub dishing up traditional grub, hot breakfast & Sunday roasts, plus real ale.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Sports
- Popular for solo dining
- Happy hour food
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Offerings· 5
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Happy hour food
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Trendy
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Parking· 5
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Usually plenty of parking
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Sports
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
Location
Bars near Chesters
- The Cooper Rose4.03,0630.6 miWheelchair accessible
roof terrace, app ordering delays, cheap drinks
- The Wolsey4.48381.7 mi£10–20ReservationsGood for kids
sunday carvery dinner, the chips, tough beef in baguette
- Grannie Annies4.41,4732.1 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
rooftop outdoor area, beach benches, pet friendly
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChestersReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.21,583 | — | £10–20 | private car park fines, real hand pulled ales, carvery |
| The Cooper RoseWheelchair accessible | 4.03,063 | 0.6 mi | — | roof terrace, app ordering delays, cheap drinks |
| The WolseyReservations · Good for kids | 4.4838 | 1.7 mi | £10–20 | sunday carvery dinner, the chips, tough beef in baguette |
| Grannie AnniesReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.41,473 | 2.1 mi | £10–20 | rooftop outdoor area, beach benches, pet friendly |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
